As this year draws to a close, because today is the 30th, which means we have two more days until we are officially in 2012, I get the opportunity to look back and be thankful for my life and everything in it. There were certainly some days this past year that made me wish a lot of things and some times, not so good things were wished for. I cannot take those thoughts back, but I can sit here and say that I am so very thankful for unanswered prayers.
I have had the opportunities this year to travel, try new things, see new places, make new friends and learn just how difficult tough love really is. I have learned that I am able to endure pain of which there was truly no way to measure it on any sort of scale. I learned that my husband loves me unconditionally. I already knew my parents did, but they continue to show it. I learned that it is possible to love your parents more than you ever realized you did. I also learned just how peaceful a near death experience truly is. There are no words that I could ever speak or write down that could tell you just how utterly calm everything is on the cusp of death. While I did not see any bright lights or family members that have previously passed, I experienced nothing short of a state of pure calming bliss. It was later overshadowed by confusion, but that was while I was attempting to realize the meaning of all my vital signs.
We visitied New Orleans, I got to experience Bourbon Street, true Louisiana cooking and then got to drive through the March Madness traffic in Houston on our way to Austin. While living here, I have visited Dallas and attended my first wedding, other than my own. We have visited San Antonio and The Alamo as well as The River Walk. Pat has had Lasik surgery and no longer wears glasses and is still handsome as all heck. Savannah has spent a little over two months with us this year and I got to learn even more "stories" that she has been told. I'll stop there and just say that I love that Pat gets to spend time with his daughter. I just wish that I could enjoy the visits just as much instead of having to deal with the drama caused by all the untruths that have been shoved into her head.
I found a church this year that makes me feel so welcome and comfortable. More importantly than that, I opened my heart to Christ and have began to learn more about myself through the lessons in the Bible. I am a work in progress and I fall short each and every day, but I still try my very best to live the life that God wants me to live and try to be a lesson to others of His love and goodness.
This year has been a year of lessons both good and bad, easy and hard. I expect that 2012 will hold the same in store. I'm just happy to be alive to get to enjoy the time that will be coming up over the next year. Happy New Year to each and every one of you.
